Method and apparatus for assembling narrow components onto a tire building drum

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for assembling multiple tire components onto one or more tire building drums at a work station of a tire building system is disclosed. A first inner set of measuring drums is located at a first loading position between a second outer set of measuring drums at a second loading position. Tire components are loaded onto the first and second sets of measuring drums at the first and second loading positions. The first and second sets of measuring drums are alternatively moved from the first and second loading positions into first and second ready positions, respectively. Then the first and second sets of measuring drums are alternatively moved from the first and second ready positions into first and second transfer positions, respectively, where the tire components are transferred to the one or more tire building drums. Then the first and second sets of measuring drums are retracted away from the first and second transfer positions, respectively, to the first and second ready positions. Finally the first and second sets of inner and outer measuring drums are alternatively moved between the first and second ready positions and the first and second loading positions so as to pass one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No.09/957,779, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,706,134, having a filing date of Sept.21, 2001 and a common assignee with the present application.

This application relates to U.S. Patent Application entitled METHOD FORMANUFACTURING TIRES ON A FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, and filed oneven date herewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the fabrication of laminatedproducts like motor vehicle tires, more specifically to drum-transfertechniques for building such products, and still more specifically todrum-transfer techniques for assembling narrow components onto abuilding drum, particularly in the context of an automatic tire buildingsystem having a sequence of work stations.

BACKGROUND ART

The manufacture of laminated rubber and synthetic rubber products liketires and drive belts is commonly accomplished using a drum-transferbuilding technique. This technique involves the use of a “building drum”on which components of the product are assembled, and a number of“measuring” or “measuring” drums from which components of the productare transferred to the building drum. Each component of the product isinitially placed onto the surface of a measuring drum at a “workstation” and is cut to the right length. The measuring drum is thenmoved towards the building drum until the component contacts thebuilding drum. The rotation of the building drum with respect to themeasuring drum causes the component to transfer from the measuring drumto the building drum. An example of a measuring drum is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,504,337. In an automatic tire building system, such asdisclosed in U.S. Patent Application entitled METHOD FOR MANUFACTURINGTIRES ON A FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, the building drum travels fromwork station to work station, receiving one or more components at eachwork station until the product (or a subassembly thereof) is completedon the building drum. In this tire building system, a plurality ofbuilding drums are employed in “pipeline” fashion such that at any giventime there are building drums in process at different work stations orin transit between stations, each drum serially acquiring productcomponents.

This drum-transfer process is shown schematically in FIGS. 1A–1C. FIG.1A shows a drum-transfer assembly portion 10 of a work station wherein ameasuring drum 12 has had a tire component 14 placed on the surfacethereof and the component 14 has been cut to length. A building drum 16is in position, spaced away from the measuring drum 12, awaitingtransfer of the product component 14. The measuring drum 12 and buildingdrum 16 are placed in contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 1B. Themeasuring drum 12 and the building drum 16 are rotated in coordinationwith one another to cause the component 14 to release from the measuringdrum 12 and adhere to the building drum 16. Once the transfer of thecomponent 14 to the building drum 16 is complete, the measuring drum 12and building drum 16 are spaced from each other in preparation forreceiving a new component 14, as shown in FIG. 1C.

Typically, one or more tire components 14 are applied to the buildingdrum 16 from the measuring drum(s) at each work station. When two of thesame type but spaced tire components are assembled onto the tirebuilding drum at the same work station, it has been difficult to applythem both at the same station, especially when the two spaced-apartnarrow components 14 are close to each other. An example of applying twocomponents is the assembly of two tire inserts of a runflat tire,wherein the two insert components are transferred to the building drumfrom two measuring drums at the same work station.

A two-component assembly technique of this type is illustratedschematically in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a top view of a portion 10A of atwo-component work station comprising a pair of narrow measuring drums12A and 12B positioned side by side, each having been prepared with arespective tire component 14A and 14B, such as tire insert components,for transfer to a waiting building drum 16.

Two-component assembly at a single work station has at least twosignificant advantages over single component assembly: speed of assemblyand conservation of manufacturing floor space. Multiple componentassembly, however, is limited by the number of measuring drums that canbe positioned side by side in a work station and by the position of thecomponents within the product. If the components must be placed veryclose to one another on the building drum, it is not possible toposition two measuring drums closely enough together in a side by sideconfigurations to place both components in their correct positions.

It would be advantageous, however, if there were a way to assemblemultiple, narrow, closely-spaced components of a tire construction ontoa tire building drum at the same work station, since the size and costof separate work stations and additional assembly time isdisproportionate to the size, cost and value of some narrow components.

As an example, where several narrow components, such as a bead fillerand a support strip are both located in the bead area of a vehicle tireare narrow, it is possible to assemble the two bead filler components atone work station and the two narrow support strips at another workstation. Using prior-art techniques it is not possible, however, toassemble the both the support strips and the bead filler components atthe same assembly station, since the bead filler component is assembledat least partially on top of the support strip component, preventing theuse of side by side measuring drums.

In view of the aforementioned difficulty in assembling multiple,closely-spaced, narrow components at a single work station, and in lightof the clear advantages of doing so, there is an ongoing need forimproved drum-transfer assembly techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, multiple components are assembled onto abuilding drum at a work station by providing measuring drums that areindependently controllable in two dimensions: laterally (parallel withrespect to the building drum axis of rotation) and longitudinally(perpendicular to the building drum axis of rotation). A first set ofmeasuring drums is positioned laterally to the inside of a second set ofmeasuring drums such that they can be moved independent of one anotherwithout collision. Generally speaking, the first and second sets ofdrums travel alternately between the first and second transferpositions, respectively, adjacent the building drum, first and secondready positions slightly spaced from the building drum and first andsecond component loading positions, respectively. When the first set ofmeasuring drums is at the first component loading position receiving newtire components, the second set of measuring drums is positioned at thesecond ready or second transfer position near the building drum. Thefirst set of measuring drums is retracted (longitudinally) from thefirst transfer and first ready positions to the first component loadingposition while the second set of measuring drums travels outside of thefirst set of measuring drums to a second ready position and finally to asecond transfer position adjacent the building drum to apply componentsonto the building drum. When the first set of measuring drums moves fromthe first ready position to the first loading position, new componentsare applied thereto. After transferring components from the second setof measuring drums to the building drum, the second set of measuringdrums are retracted from the second transfer position to the secondready position and finally to the second loading position while thefirst set of measuring drums is moved back to the first transferposition as described before. After the components are applied to thetire building drum, it moves on to a next work station, a new buildingdrum is moved into position in the work station, and the cycle beginsagain.

When a set of measuring drums (first or second set) arrives at the firstor second ready position adjacent the building drum, they are positionedlaterally to clear the other set of measuring drums, and must berepositioned laterally to assemble their tire components onto thebuilding drum in the correct position. After transferring the tirecomponents to the building drum, the set of measuring drums move back totheir respective first or second ready position and once againrepositioned laterally to clear the other set of measuring drums intravel back to their respective loading positions.

According to a method aspect of the invention, multiple components areassembled onto one or more tire building drums by providing first andsecond sets of measuring drums, and providing first and second sets ofcomponents on the first and second sets of measuring drums,respectively. The first set of measuring drums is positioned into afirst ready position adjacent the tire building drum and the second setof measuring drums is positioned in a second loading position. Then thefirst set of measuring drums is retracted away from the tire buildingdrum to a first loading position and the second set of measuring drumsis moved around the first set of measuring drums to a second readyposition adjacent the tire building drum.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the first set ofcomponents is transferred from the first set of measuring drums to thetire building drum by moving the first set of measuring drums from thefirst ready position to a first transfer position.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the second set ofcomponents is transferred from the second set of measuring drums to thetire building drum by moving the second set of measuring drums from thesecond ready position to a second transfer position.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a new first set ofcomponents is applied to the first set of measuring drums while thefirst set of measuring drums is in the first loading position.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a new second set ofcomponents is applied to the second set of measuring drums while thesecond set of measuring drums is in the second loading position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tire building drum ismoved into a work station from a previous work station prior toassembling either first or second set components thereto.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tire building drum ismoved from the work station to a next work station after assemblingfirst and second set components thereto.

According to another method aspect of the invention, multiple componentassembly onto a tire building drum having an axis of rotation located ata work station. The method involves the steps of:

-   -   providing a building drum having an axis of rotation at the work        station;    -   providing a first set of inner measuring drums with axes of        rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the building drum,        each inner measuring drum being independently movable parallel        to and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the building        drum;    -   disposing a first set of components on the first set of inner        measuring drums;    -   providing a second set of outer measuring drums with axes of        rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the building drum,        each outer measuring drum being independently movable parallel        to and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the building        drum;    -   disposing a second set of components on the second set of        measuring drums    -   controlling the first and second sets of measuring drums to move        between respective first and second loading positions and        respective first and second ready positions adjacent the tire        building drum such that the first and second measuring drums        clear one another as they travel;    -   transferring the first set of components from the first set of        measuring drums to the building drum; and    -   transferring the second set of components from the second set of        measuring drums to the building drum.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first set of measuringdrums are moved longitudinally towards the building drum from a firstloading position inside of the second set of measuring drums, to a firstready position adjacent the building drum in preparation fortransferring the first set of components onto the building drum.

According to another aspect of the invention, the second set ofmeasuring drums are moved longitudinally towards the building drum froma second loading position outside of the first set of measuring drums,to a second ready position adjacent the building drum in preparation fortransferring the second set of components onto the tire building drum.

According to another aspect of the invention, the step of providing abuilding drum at the building location comprises moving a building drumfrom a previous location to the work station.

According to another aspect of the invention, motion of the first andsecond sets of measuring drums is controlled so that they followspecific paths. Simultaneously, the second set of drums is movedlaterally apart from one another at the second ready position and thenlongitudinally away from the tire building drum to a second loadingposition while the first set of drums is moved from the first loadingposition, longitudinally towards the tire building drum to a first readyposition prior to transferring the first set of components to the tirebuilding drum at the first transfer position. Then, simultaneously, thefirst set of measuring drums is moved back to the first ready position,laterally together, and then longitudinally away from the tire buildingdrum to a first loading position while the second set of measuring drumsis moved laterally outside of the first set of measuring drums andlongitudinally towards the tire building drum to a second ready positionadjacent the tire building drum prior to transferring the second set ofcomponents at the second transfer position to the tire building drum.

According to another aspect of the invention, new components are appliedto the first and second sets of measuring drums while they are in theirrespective first and second loading positions.

The present invention also describes a work station for assemblingmultiple components onto a building drum at a work station, comprising afirst set of measuring drums and a second set of measuring drums, abuilding location for receiving a building drum, the building drumhaving an axis of rotation, and independently controllable means foreffecting lateral and longitudinal motion of each of the first andsecond sets of measuring drums.

Alone or in combination, the various aspects of the invention permitmultiple, different types of components to be assembled on a tirebuilding drum at a single work station, thereby saving production floorspace, reducing assembly time, and lowering equipment and assemblycosts.

The present invention is particularly useful in conjunction with asystem for simultaneously building a plurality of tire carcasses, suchas is disclosed in the aforementioned copending Patent Applicationentitled METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING TIRES ON A FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURINGSYSTEM, and described hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1Dand 2. The method disclosed therein generally comprises the tirebuilding steps of establishing a sequence of at least three and up toten work stations; advancing at least three disconnected tire buildingdrums along a working axis extending through the at least three workstations; and applying one or more tire components to the tire buildingdrums at each of the work stations. Then the resulting green tirecarcass is removed at the last of the work stations. Finally, the tirebuilding drum is advanced from the last work station after the greencarcass has been removed to the first work station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further features of the present invention will be apparentwith reference to the following description and drawing, wherein:

FIGS. 1A–1C is a schematic view of a portion of a prior-artdrum-transfer work station;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of a prior-art drum-transfer workstation with two measuring drums;

FIGS. 3A–3F are top views of an arrangement of four measuring drums fortransferring multiple narrow components onto a building drum, accordingto the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of a measuring drum assembly, according to theinvention;

FIG. 5A is a top view of a support frame and carriage assembly foreffecting the motion of four measuring drums at a single work station,according to the invention; and

FIG. 5B is the support frame and carriage assembly of FIG. 5A withmeasuring drum assemblies assembled thereto, according to the invention.

In the detailed description that follows, identical components have beengiven the same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shownin different embodiments of the present invention. To illustrate thepresent invention in a clear and concise manner, the drawings may notnecessarily be to scale and certain features may be shown in somewhatschematic form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present inventive technique eliminates the need to apply two typesof narrow components onto a tire building drum at separate locations bypermitting two-dimensional repositioning of measuring drums to permitassembly of additional tire components at the same tire building workstation.

According to the invention, a technique for assembling multiple tirecomponents onto a tire building drum comprises four, independentlycontrollable measuring drums at a single tire building work station.Each of the measuring drums is mounted to a carriage that can move itsrespective drum in two dimensions. Each measuring drum can be movedtowards the building drum or away from it. Each measuring drum can alsobe moved laterally, parallel to the axis of rotation of the buildingdrum.

In operation, two of the measuring drums are positioned to transfer twotire components onto the building drum. Then, those two measuring drumsare moved out of the way, and the two remaining measuring drums aremoved into position to transfer two more tire components onto the tirebuilding drum. While one set of measuring drums is transferring its tirecomponents to the tire building drum, the other set is located in aloading position where it can receive new tire components and have themcut to length.

The travel of the four measuring drums relative to the building drum isshown and described hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 3A–3F. Forsimplicity and illustrative clarity, drive components such as motors,gears and belts are omitted. For the same reasons, loading and trimmingof the components, which are well known to those of ordinary skill inthe art, are also omitted.

FIG. 3A is a top view of a portion 10B of a tire building work stationhaving four measuring drums 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D. Each measuring drum12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D is loaded with a respective tire materialcomponent 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D disposed on a surface thereof and cut tolength to be transferred (assembled) onto a tire building drum 16. Thetire building drum 16 moves into the position shown at the tire buildingwork station from a previous location. There, the tire building drum 16rotates on an axis of rotation “A”. Each of the measuring drums 12A,12B, 12C and 12D rotates on a respective axis of rotation, labeled “B”,“C”, “D”, and “E”, respectively, in FIG. 3A. In FIG. 3A, two “inner”measuring drums 12A and 12B are shown in a first “ready” positionadjacent to the tire building drum 16. They are shown already positionedlaterally outward from their initial position at the ready position withrespect to the tire building drum 16 to transfer their respectivecomponents 14A and 14B onto the tire building drum 16 at the correctposition, in the manner shown and described hereinabove with respect toFIGS. 1A–1C. As indicated by arrows in FIG. 3A, the two inner measuringdrums 12A and 12B are then moved from their “first ready” positiontowards the tire building drum 16 into first transfer position where thetire material components 14A and 14B are transferred onto the tirebuilding drum 16. Once the tire material components 14A and 14B havebeen transferred, the two inner measuring drums 12A and 12B retract backto their first ready position. During this time, two “outer” measuringdrums 12C and 12D are spaced apart from one another laterally (withrespect to the axis “A” of the tire building drum 16) and are in asecond “retracted” or “loading” position away from the building drum 16.

Next, the two “inner” measuring drums 12A and 12B are moved closetogether in their “first ready” position, as needed to clear the “outer”measuring drums 12C and 12D, and retracted back away from the tirebuilding drum 16 into the first loading position where they will receivenew, replacement components 14A and 14B, respectively. Either insequence or simultaneously, the two “outer” measuring drums 12C and 12Dare moved towards the tire building drum 16 as generally indicated byarrows in FIG. 3B to the second ready position. The relative lateralpositions of the “inner” measuring drums 12A and 12B and “outer”measuring drums 12C and 12D during this motion are chosen so that thedrums clear one another during their travel. FIG. 3B shows the materialcomponents 14A and 14B from the “inner” measuring drums 12A and 12Bassembled onto the tire building drum 16.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the two “inner” measuring drums 12A and 12Bare retracted to their first loading position and the two “outer”measuring drums 12C and 12D move forward towards the second readyposition, spaced from the drum 16. Next, the “outer” measuring drums 12Cand 12D move laterally with respect to the tire building drum 16 towardsone another until they reach the correct second ready position fortransferring their respective components 14C and 14D onto the tirebuilding drum 16. This motion is generally indicated by arrows in FIG.3C.

The two “outer” measuring drums 12C and 12D are shown in their secondready position in FIG. 3D. As generally indicated by arrows, the two“outer” drums are then moved towards the tire building drum 16 to thesecond transfer position to transfer their tire material components 14Cand 14D and then moved back to the second ready position in the samemanner as described hereinabove with respect to FIG. 3A for the two“inner” measuring drums 12A and 12B. The tire components 14C and 14D canbe positioned to overlap or completely cover the previously placed tirecomponents 14A and 14B. FIG. 3E shows the “outer” measuring drums 12Cand 12D in position adjacent the tire building drum 16 after havingtransferred their respective material components 14C and 14D thereto.

Next, the tire building drum 16 is moved onwards towards another workstation, as generally indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3E. Essentiallyreversing their previous motion described hereinabove with respect toFIGS. 3B and 3C the measuring drums 12C and 12D move laterally apartfrom one another and back into their “retracted” or “loading” positionand the inner measuring drums 12A and 12B move forward towards the tirebuilding drum 16 into their “ready” position. (as generally indicated byarrows in FIG. 3E). The four measuring drums 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D areshown in these positions in FIG. 3F. As generally indicated by an arrowin 3F, another tire building drum 16 is moved into position and thecycle starts again. The outer measuring drums 12C and 12D receive new,replacement tire material components 14C and 14D, the inner measuringdrums 12A and 12B will transfer their tire components 14A and 14B to thebuilding drum, etc., as before. The two outer measuring drums 12C and12D, and the two “inner” measuring drums 12A and 12B continue theircycle of moving towards and away from the building drum 16 to applytheir respective components.

FIG. 4 is a view of a measuring drum assembly 18 comprising a measuringdrum 12 mounted to a support arm and support base assembly 20. Themeasuring drum 12 rotates on an axle 22 attached to the support baseassembly 20. Each support base assembly 20 attaches to a respective“follower” (described hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 5A). Forillustrative simplicity and clarity, means for rotating, braking andmonitoring the position of the measuring drum 12 are not shown. Suchmeans are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and will notbe further elaborated upon herein.

FIG. 5A is a top view of a station frame assembly 24 for effecting theindependent motion of four measuring drums, but with the measuring drumsand support base assemblies removed to show underlying components. Thestation frame assembly 24 comprises a support frame 26. Four measuringdrum carriages 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D travel along a “lateral” pathdefined by guide rods 30 and by means of guide rod bushings 32. Two“inner” measuring drum carriages 28A and 28B are mounted adjacent to oneanother along the path defined by the guide rods 30, with two “outer”measuring drum carriages 28C and 28D mounted to the outside of the two“inner” measuring drum carriages 28A and 28B. Four independentlycontrolled lateral leadscrews 34A, 34B, 34C and 34D, mounted parallel tothe guide rods 30, control the lateral positions of four lateralleadscrew followers 36A, 36B, 36C and 36D, respectively, attached to themeasuring drum carriages 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D, respectively, therebypermitting independent control of the lateral positions thereof. Fourlongitudinal leadscrews 38A, 38B, 38C and 38D are mounted in the fourmeasuring drum carriages 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D, and are orientedperpendicular to the lateral leadscrews 34A, 34B, 34C and 34D along thelength of the carriages 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D, respectively. Eachlongitudinal leadscrew 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D controls the longitudinalposition of a respective longitudinal leadscrew follower 40A, 40B, 40C,and 40D. For illustrative clarity, leadscrew drive motors, belts, gears,position monitors, etc., have been omitted. The purpose and function ofsuch items is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and willnot be further elaborated upon herein.

FIG. 5B is a top view of the station frame assembly 24 with measuringdrums 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D mounted to measuring drum carriages 28A,28B, 28C, and 28D, respectively, by means of a support base assemblies20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D, respectively. Each support base assembly 20A,20B, 20C, and 20D attaches to a respective longitudinal leadscrewfollower 40A, 40B, 40C and 40D, to control the longitudinal position ofits respective measuring drum 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D. The lateralposition of the measuring drums 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D is controlled bylateral leadscrews 34A, 34B, 34C and 34D, respectively (see FIG. 5A).

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to acertain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is evident thatequivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled inthe art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and theannexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functionsperformed by the above described components (assemblies, devices,circuits, etc.) the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used todescribe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwiseindicated, to any component which performs the specified function of thedescribed component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even thoughnot structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performsthe function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of theinvention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention mayhave been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments,such feature may be combined with one or more features of the otherembodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given orparticular application.

1. A work station for assembling multiple tire components onto a tirebuilding drum having an axis of rotation; comprising: a first set ofmeasuring drums; a second set of measuring drums; lateral motion meansfor independently and controllably moving the first and second sets ofmeasuring drums, respectively, in a direction parallel to the axis ofrotation of the building drum; and longitudinal motion means forindependently and controllably moving the first and second sets ofmeasuring drums in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation ofthe building drum, wherein the first set of measuring drums arepositioned laterally inside of the second set of measuring drums and thesecond set of measuring drums are movable towards the tire building drumso as to pass laterally outside of and around the first set of measuringdrums.
 2. A work station according to claim 1, including: a first set ofmeasuring drum carriages for the first set of measuring drums; a secondset of measuring drum carriages for the second set of measuring drums; afirst set of drum support bases for attaching the first set of measuringdrums to the first set of measuring drum carriages; a second set of drumsupport bases for attaching the second set of measuring drums to thesecond set of measuring drum carriages.
 3. A work station according toclaim 2, wherein: the first set of measuring drum carriages associatedwith the first set of measuring drums are positioned laterally inside ofthe second set of measuring drum carriages associated with the secondset of measuring drums.
 4. A work station according to claim 2, wherein:the lateral motion means comprise laterally oriented leadscrews andlateral leadscrew followers, with both the first and second measuringdrum carriages connected to a lateral leadscrew follower.
 5. A workstation according to claim 2, wherein: the longitudinal motion meanscomprise a longitudinally oriented leadscrew mounted to each of thefirst and second sets of measuring drum carriages and a longitudinalleadscrew follower associated with each longitudinally orientedleadscrew, each of the first and second sets of measuring drum supportbases being connected to a longitudinal leadscrew follower.